Get MT4 through the official FBS download page, connect the matching trading account and verify its server and symbol settings before using the platform.
Choose the platform for the account you have
Installing MT4 does not itself open an FBS trading account. First establish whether you have a real or demo account for this version. The account-type guide and registration walkthrough explain those separate choices.
Use the official FBS MT4 download page as the starting point. It provides device-specific choices. A download being available does not establish that the broker accepts your residence or that a particular instrument is available.
Pick the correct device route
| Device or route | What to check |
|---|---|
| Windows desktop | Use the provider-linked installer and keep your account/server details to hand. |
| macOS desktop | Use the current provider or MetaQuotes macOS route. Installation requirements can differ from Windows. |
| Android or iOS | Follow the official store link for the intended MetaTrader app; check the publisher and device compatibility. |
| WebTrader | A browser interface is a separate route. Do not assume it supports every custom desktop tool. |
For macOS details, see our MT4 Mac installation guide when using MT4. Do not apply an MT4 workaround automatically to MT5.
Connect MT4 before adding chart tools
Locate the MT4 account details. In Trader Area, check the platform version, real or demo status, account number and exact server. The website email and password are not a substitute for the trading credentials.
Install from the official device selector. Use the FBS MT4 page linked above. On desktop, open File, then Login to Trade Account, and enter the assigned account number, trading password and server.
Confirm the account identity. Check the account displayed in the terminal before changing a chart or order setting. An investor password gives observation access; it is not the password for trading.
Open a plain demo chart. Confirm that the expected symbol and price feed are present before adding a custom indicator. Missing prices can reflect a connection, symbol or trading-session issue.
These account steps follow the FBS MetaTrader login instructions. We reviewed the public instructions; we did not install a fresh FBS terminal or test a live account for this guide. For a rejected password or missing server, use the dedicated FBS login troubleshooting guide.
Add an MT4 custom indicator on desktop
Desktop MT4 uses MQL4 programs. A compiled indicator normally has an .ex4 extension; .mq4 is source code and requires compilation. MT5 files are a different format. Check the tool’s instructions and publisher before copying it into a terminal.
The following is a general MT4 desktop workflow, separate from FBS account registration:
Open the intended terminal’s data folder. In that MT4 window, use File, then Open Data Folder. This avoids putting the file into another broker installation or an old terminal.
Use the indicator folder. Place the compatible indicator file in
MQL4/Indicators. Follow its supplied instructions for any required companion files. An Expert Advisor belongs to a different program category and can place orders.Refresh the indicator list. Refresh Indicators in Navigator or restart that terminal. If the file is source code only, compilation must succeed before there is a usable compiled program.
Attach it to the demo chart. Read its inputs and check the symbol and timeframe. A signal drawn on a chart does not show that a trade was executed or that the indicator is profitable.
Read errors before changing permissions. If it does not load, check the Experts and Journal messages and the tool’s requirements. Do not enable automatic trading or DLL access merely to make an ordinary chart indicator appear.
On a Mac, use the running MT4 terminal’s own data-folder command; do not assume a Windows folder path exists on your system. Mobile and web access do not provide this same custom desktop installation workflow. Our trading-software comparison explains the wider platform choices.
Account funding and verification remain separate. See the FBS app guide for the difference between provider account management and MetaTrader charting.
Read the account’s contract specification
FBS’s public MT4 page describes forex, metals, indices and energies. That is a platform marketing description, not a guarantee that every instrument is enabled for your account.
Start with contract size and minimum volume, then check the spread, financing and trading hours. A chart price alone does not tell you the cash value of a position. Use the pip-value calculator and position-size calculator with the correct inputs, then compare the result with the terminal specification.
See FBS fees and spreads for cost categories and leverage and margin for account-level limits. A maximum advertised ratio is not the ratio applicable to every symbol or balance.
Separate an account problem from an indicator problem
If the account cannot connect, verify the MT4 account number, assigned real or demo server and password type. Use the login guide above for those symptoms. Reinstalling a custom indicator will not correct a server mismatch.
If the account connects but an indicator is absent, check the file extension, the terminal data folder and any compilation or loading error. If it loads but shows no signals, compare its documented conditions with the chart settings; an empty chart is not automatically an installation failure. Keep these checks on a demo account, and preserve working profiles before making changes.
Questions traders ask
Does downloading FBS MT4 create a trading account?
No. Select or create an account for MT4 separately, then use its account number, trading password and assigned server to connect.
Where do I put an MT4 custom indicator?
In the intended desktop terminal, open File, then Open Data Folder, and use MQL4/Indicators. Follow the tool’s instructions for dependencies and compilation. This is not the mobile app workflow.
Can an MT5 indicator run in MT4?
An MT5 file is not a drop-in MT4 program. Obtain an MT4 version from its developer; changing the filename extension does not convert the code.
Must I enable automatic trading to display an indicator?
Do not enable it just to make a normal chart indicator appear. Check whether the product is actually an Expert Advisor, and read its permissions and error messages before changing settings.
Does a free MT4 download mean FBS trading is free?
No. Download cost is separate from spreads, financing and any applicable account or payment charges. Check the account’s actual contract terms.
Choose your next step
Check login problems. Practise with virtual funds. Compare the other MetaTrader platform. Read the cost checklist.
Sources and review scope
Reviewed on 9 September 2026. This guide uses public provider instructions and our educational explanation. We did not open or fund an FBS account, submit identity documents, place a trade, or test a withdrawal. Screenshots identify their source and show only the steps or documentation described in their captions.
Official broker websites
Read the current terms and restrictions for your actual residence. These links do not establish that a broker or service is available or authorised where you live.
Forex and CFD trading carries a significant risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. These are affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you use them.